The DATA Privacy Act would empower the Federal Trade Commission to put in place specific definitions for what is considered discriminatory behavior in targeted ad and data practices. It would also extend the FTCâ€™s civil penalty authority for violations of those rules, alongside broader protections on user data.

â€śThe Senator is focused [on making sure] that as Congress tackles the issue of protecting Americans data privacy, our government is also guarding against potential forms of digital discrimination in areas ranging from housing and employment to lending and access to resources,â€ť a spokesperson for Cortez Masto told The Verge.